Mr Krikkrai told Thai Rath Online the meeting floated an idea of having lifeguards to provide safety for tourists and respond to all emergencies including giving first aid to those exposed to poisonous jellyfish.

The lifeguards would look for box jellyfish in coastal areas and warn tourists to avoid entering the water, among other duties, he said.

The jellyfish stung Chayanan when she was in the water with three friends on Friday evening. She went into shock shortly after and was taken to a clinic on Had Rin beach. She died on the way to Koh Phangan hospital for further treatment.

Box jellyfish warning signs have been posted on Had Rin beach along with bottles of vinegar in the wake of Chayanan’s death. Vinegar has long been used as a first aid treatment for jellyfish stings, but a study conducted in Australia last year suggested applying vinegar can cause up to 60% more venom to be discharged into a victim. The findings are still hotly debated.

Wannee Thaipanich, president of the Koh Phangan Tourism Promotion Association, agreed with the idea of having lifeguards to cover beaches and said the private sector would support the cost to ensure safety for all visitors.

Local tourism operators had advised tourists not to go swimming after a rainfall, Mrs Wannee said, referring to the time when box jellyfish are known to be more numerous in shallow waters.

The Royal Irrigation Department is considering building a subsurface dam, the first of its kind in Thailand, on Koh Phangan to address freshwater shortages on the popular tourist island.

Yongyuth Kerdsinchai, director of the Surat Thani irrigation office, told Thairath Online that a recent RID survey found water demand on Koh Phangan had risen to 600,000 cubic metres a year, about twice the available supply.

He said a department feasibility study found Koh Phangan was built on granite and sandstone, which can retain groundwater and serve as a natural aquifer. The geological strata was suitable for the construction of subsurface dam.

The system will store groundwater with a “cutoff wall” driven deep underground to block a subterranean channel. The bottom exceeds the floor of the water supply and, depending on the depth of the groundwater, the top of the dam may be exposed above ground.

Mr Yongyuth said a subsurface dam would solve freshwater-shortage problems with sufficient supplies available throughout the year.

He said officials recently met with community leaders and residents to listen to their opinions on the project. The meeting was attended by Mr Yongyuth, RID engineers and chief of the Koh Phangan district office, Krikkrai Songthanee.

Mr Yongyuth said if residents agree with the project, the department would invite experts from Japan to help prepare for the large-scale construction that would be required and attempt to minimise theenvironmental impact.

Japan is home to the world’s first two “mega” subsurface dams — named Sunagawa and Fukuza — which were built in 1988 and completed in 1993 on Miyako Island, the largest and the most populous in Okinawa prefecture, to solve drought-related water shortages.

In addition to storing groundwater, subsurface dams also have the effect of blocking seawater from fouling freshwater supplies and can include other facilities such as wells, intake shafts, and pumps to draw groundwater to the surface.

Unlike a surface dam, advantages of the underground version are that the environment above the dam is left intact; land subsidence is minimised due to support provided by the stored groundwater; and there is no risk of danger to people or property from a dam collapse or breach.

Mr Krikkrai said the subsurface dam would be the first such project for the RID and Thailand and its budget is estimated at 400 million baht.

The project currently is in the environmental-impact assessment stage and public comment is being sought, he said.

]]>http://kohphangannews.org/general-news/koh-phangan-subsurface-dam-to-address-freshwater-shortage-2077.html/feed/0Koh Phangan airport could be open by 2016http://kohphangannews.org/general-news/koh-phangan-airport-could-be-open-by-2016-2074.html
http://kohphangannews.org/general-news/koh-phangan-airport-could-be-open-by-2016-2074.html#commentsSat, 04 Jul 2015 06:47:11 +0000http://kohphangannews.org/?p=2074Southern private business owner Somphong Sooksanguan who owns Kan Air and part owns VietJet Air and is now planning on spending THB 900 million (US$ 28.1 million) building a brand new airport in Koh Phangan. Tour operators and tourists have … Continue reading →

Southern private business owner Somphong Sooksanguan who owns Kan Air and part owns VietJet Air and is now planning on spending THB 900 million (US$ 28.1 million) building a brand new airport in Koh Phangan.

Tour operators and tourists have been complaining for years about the high fares being charged to fly into Koh Samui by Bangkok Airways, who own the airport and are partially responsible for turning Samui into one of Thailand’s most successful tourism stories.

If Mr. Sooksanguan succeeds in attracting more partners into a joint venture operation the airport could be open as soon as next year. It is estimated it would attract some 600,000 passengers a year and could be equipped with a 1,100 meter runway that could accommodate aircraft such as the ATR 42.

Kan air flights would initially serve Bangkok twice a day, but more flights would be on offer as the airport would allow other carriers. At the moment passengers bound for Koh Phangan must either fly to Surat Thani and then take a ferry or fly to Samui and take a boat to the neighbouring island.

If fares from Kan Air are priced competitively it would certainly dent Bangkok Airways travel, even if it starts on a small scale of 100 seats a day, that could be the beginning on an island that welcomes and estimated 2,000 foreigners a day.

]]>http://kohphangannews.org/party-zone/koh-phangan-tourism-association-called-to-fully-lift-the-ban-on-moon-type-parties-on-the-island-2055.html/feed/0Koh Phangan Moon-Type Parties to be allowed again but must be FREE OF DRUGS ;-)http://kohphangannews.org/party-zone/koh-phangan-moon-type-parties-to-be-allowed-again-but-must-be-free-of-drugs-2030.html
http://kohphangannews.org/party-zone/koh-phangan-moon-type-parties-to-be-allowed-again-but-must-be-free-of-drugs-2030.html#commentsWed, 24 Jun 2015 07:45:43 +0000http://kohphangannews.org/?p=2030Moon-Type parties on Koh Phangan Island in Surat Thani province will be permitted again but with conditions that operators must strictly abide by the official rules and regulations 😉 This was revealed by Koh Phangan district chief officer Krirk-krai Songthani … Continue reading →

]]>http://kohphangannews.org/party-zone/koh-phangan-moon-type-parties-to-be-allowed-again-but-must-be-free-of-drugs-2030.html/feed/0Boat driver on the run after striking British diver near Koh Tao Islandhttp://kohphangannews.org/high-alert/boat-driver-on-the-run-after-striking-british-diver-near-koh-tao-island-2025.html
http://kohphangannews.org/high-alert/boat-driver-on-the-run-after-striking-british-diver-near-koh-tao-island-2025.html#commentsWed, 10 Jun 2015 17:28:17 +0000http://kohphangannews.org/?p=2025A boat driver in southern Thailand fled after he struck a British tourist with the boat’s propeller off the coast of Koh Tao yesterday. According to police, the 20-year-old British woman nearly lost her leg in the accident, which occured … Continue reading →

According to police, the 20-year-old British woman nearly lost her leg in the accident, which occured while she was taking a diving lesson with other tourists from a company called Scuba Shark on the western side of the island.

The boat’s turbine hit her leg while she and the other tourists were swimming to shore, breaking two of her bones and causing her to bleed profusely.

Rescue workers brought her to the closest hospital on nearby Koh Samui, where she is now recovering, according to medical workers.

Police said the boat’s captain, identified as Boonrord Klubnak, fled the scene after the incident and is currently on the run.

In September 2014, two British tourists – Hannah Witheridge and David Miller – were found murdered on Sairee beach. Witheridge was also raped, according to police. Two Burmese migrant workers have been arrested, and accused of killing the two and raping Witheridge.

The two suspects are being held at a prison to await trial. They have denied the allegation.

In December 2014, a Norwegian tourist was also killed near Koh Tao island after a boat turbine struck his head while he was diving in the sea.

]]>http://kohphangannews.org/high-alert/boat-driver-on-the-run-after-striking-british-diver-near-koh-tao-island-2025.html/feed/0British diver struck by boat propeller while diving at Koh Tao Islandhttp://kohphangannews.org/scuba-padi-diving/british-diver-struck-by-boat-propeller-while-diving-at-koh-tao-island-2020.html
http://kohphangannews.org/scuba-padi-diving/british-diver-struck-by-boat-propeller-while-diving-at-koh-tao-island-2020.html#commentsWed, 10 Jun 2015 17:09:45 +0000http://kohphangannews.org/?p=2020A 20-year-old British woman sustained severe leg injuries when she was struck by a boat’s propeller while diving near an island off Koh Phangan district. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening when Alice Louise Davies was taking part in a … Continue reading →

British trainee diver Alice Davies is treated for severe leg injuries at Koh Samui hospital after she was hit by a boat propeller near Koh Nang Yuan off Koh Tao Island on Tuesday. (Photo by Supapong Chaolan)

A 20-year-old British woman sustained severe leg injuries when she was struck by a boat’s propeller while diving near an island off Koh Phangan district.

The incident occurred on Tuesday evening when Alice Louise Davies was taking part in a diving course at Koh Hin Sam Kon, near Koh Nang Yuan in tambon Koh Tao.

Ms Davies and other tourists taking the Discover Scuba Diving course were reportedly surfacing when a boat carrying diving gear entered the area. Her right leg was struck by the whirling propeller blades.

Paramedics called to the scene said the British tourist’s leg was severely lacerated, with two broken bones, and she had lost a lot of blood. She was given emergency first aid and taken to a hospital on Koh Tao. Ms Davies was later transferred to Thai International Hospital on Koh Samui.

A doctor said she was out of danger, but was being kept in an intensive care unit.

Koh Tao police investigator Pol Lt Col Napa Saenathip identified the boat that hit her as the Thaniya Namchoke and the driver as Boonrod Klubnark.

He quoted Mr Boonroad as saying the accident occurred when he was backing his boat. The propeller first hit underwater rocks and when he backed again the propeller blades struck the tourist in the leg.

Pol Lt Col Napa said Mr Boonrod and his crew worked for Roctopus dive shop on Koh Tao. After the accident they helped Ms Davies and called rescue workers. They did not attempt to flee the scene. Initial media reports said the boat driver sped off after it hit the woman.

]]>http://kohphangannews.org/scuba-padi-diving/british-diver-struck-by-boat-propeller-while-diving-at-koh-tao-island-2020.html/feed/1Elephant steals camera from tourist and snaps an incredible selfiehttp://kohphangannews.org/general-news/elephant-steals-camera-from-tourist-and-snaps-an-incredible-selfie-2014.html
http://kohphangannews.org/general-news/elephant-steals-camera-from-tourist-and-snaps-an-incredible-selfie-2014.html#commentsWed, 20 May 2015 06:55:58 +0000http://kohphangannews.org/?p=2014A lucky tourist on Koh Phangan Island managed to capture an incredible selfie when an elephant grabbed his camera and started snapping pictures using his trunk. Christian LeBlanc, 22, was feeding the elephant in Koh Phangan, Thailand, when he ran … Continue reading →

In the amazing series of photos, Mr LeBlanc can be seen offering taking a few selfies himself before offering the last banana to the elephant. Then before he can step away to gather more treats for the elephant his trunk reaches out and nabs the GoPro, which continues to snap away.

Mr LeBlanc, who is studying in Bangkok, added: ‘The selfie happened while I was feeding the elephant bananas. I ran out of bananas so it grabbed my GoPro by the handle while it was on timelapse.’

‘Luckily elephants are very gentle and I got it back with one of the best photos I have ever taken.’

]]>http://kohphangannews.org/general-news/elephant-steals-camera-from-tourist-and-snaps-an-incredible-selfie-2014.html/feed/1Koh Phangan Reggae House burnt down in a midnight fire at Haad Rin beachhttp://kohphangannews.org/general-news/koh-phangan-reggae-house-burnt-down-in-a-midnight-fire-at-haad-rin-beach-2007.html
http://kohphangannews.org/general-news/koh-phangan-reggae-house-burnt-down-in-a-midnight-fire-at-haad-rin-beach-2007.html#commentsFri, 15 May 2015 11:32:13 +0000http://kohphangannews.org/?p=2007The Reggae House, a two-storey bar and restaurant on Haad Rin beach on Koh Phangan Island, was burnt down in a midnight fire last night. Several adjacent houses were also gutted in the two hour fire that broke out at … Continue reading →

The Reggae House, a two-storey bar and restaurant on Haad Rin beach on Koh Phangan Island, was burnt down in a midnight fire last night.

Several adjacent houses were also gutted in the two hour fire that broke out at 01.00 am Friday, 14th May 2015. Nobody was injured or killed in the inferno that raged the popular bar to charred remains.